Amir Khan and Kell Brook should have fought years ago but that does not mean it will be any less of an occasion.
I might have favoured Brook back then. Right now, I cannot tell you who will win this fight.
Both are vulnerable. Khan’s chin is fragile but his heart isn’t. And he went longer with Terence Crawford than Brook did.
Brook has the greater one-punch power, but Khan is quicker. It is his speed of punch that makes him dangerous, his combinations and lightening quick movements.
The best chance of a Brook victory comes early with an explosive start. The longer the fight the more you have to favour Khan. He has gone the distance in big fights before.
Brook is the naturally bigger man and will be entering the ring a stone heavier than the 149 catchweight mark. Khan will be lighter than that.
Brook is a counter puncher. He will want to seduce Khan into throwing. He will look to close him down and as soon as Khan starts punching reel off a single powerful shot, a right hand or a left hook.
Khan has to be elusive, not get backed up, move left or right and take the centre of the ring.
Khan was floored dramatically by Breidis Prescott. The same thing happened against Danny Garcia and Saul Alvarez and it was all one way against Terence Crawford.
Who are you backing? Amir Khan or Kell Brook? Have your say in the comments section
Brook was badly damaged by Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence stopped him in a gruelling fight. Crawford schooled him in four.
Every time that happens it takes away a chunk that a fighter never gets back. It robs you physiologically and psychologically.
I can see why there is support for Brook because he is the bigger puncher. But Khan has worked hard for this and engaged conqueror Crawford’s trainer Brian McIntyre to give him an edge.
Whether that translates into something tangible other than give him confidence I don’t know.
If it goes beyond four or five rounds Khan will be the happier. If he can hold off Brook in those early rounds and emerge undamaged he has a great chance of stopping Brook late on.
Whatever plans are made they can easily come unstuck in the blur of early punches.
This is so finely balanced, two greats of British boxing in the latter stages of their careers chomping at the bit after a while out of the ring.
It’s Brook early or Khan late for me.
- Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone @McGuigans_Gym
